Patras is 210 km west of Athens by road, about 2.5 hours on the E65 motorway via Corinth. Bus (KTEL Achaia) services run several times daily between Athens (Kifissos terminal) and Patras bus station, taking around 3 hours. Train services from Athens have historically been unreliable and slow due to ongoing track work on the Peloponnese lines; check current timetables before relying on rail.
The port is Patras's main connection to Italy and the Ionian islands. Daily ferry services run to Ancona, Bari, Brindisi, and Venice (journey times 15–22 hours depending on the route and operator); the Patras-Ancona and Patras-Bari crossings are the most popular for travellers driving from western Europe. ANEK Lines, Minoan Lines, and Superfast Ferries are the main operators. Local ferries connect Patras to Kefalonia and Ithaca in the Ionian islands. The ferry terminal is central and walking distance from most accommodation. Coming from the Peloponnese by road, the Rio-Antirrio bridge provides the main crossing from mainland Greece if you're arriving from the north.